Designers Revamp Kiwi Classic for Charity

Media release                                                                                          November 16, 2008

Designers Revamp Kiwi Classic for Charity

Seven of New Zealand’s top fashion designers will showcase their creative talents this week when they launch their version of the classic Kiwi jandal for KidsCan Charitable Trust.

Zambesi, Carlson, Sera Lilly, Kingan Jones, Caroline Church, Elusiv and Hailwood have all created designs for style conscious Kiwis – with $5 from each pair of Designer Jandals™ sold going to New Zealand’s underprivileged children.

The Designer Jandals™, which retail for just $12.99, are the brainchild of KidsCan General Manager Julie Helson who wants to see $50,000 raised from the initiative which will become an annual fundraising campaign for KidsCan.

The money donated will go towards supporting KidsCan’s inspiring community programmes; ‘Raincoats for Kids’, ‘Shoes for Kids’, and ‘Food for Kids’, which help youngsters in low decile schools.

These programmes currently meet the basic physical and nutritional needs of pupils in over 102 schools, from Kaitaia to Invercargill, with a further 24,000 children on the waiting list for assistance.

International success story Zambesi used the motif from its Summer 2008 collection for the jandals, says designer Elisabeth Findlay.

“We are so pleased to be involved in the Designer Jandals™ project for KidsCan. We hope our design brings something different to the collection and raises the much needed support for disadvantaged kids in New Zealand,” she says.

Auckland designer Sera Lilly created two pairs of the limited edition jandals and says as a mother was happy to lend her creative talents to the project.

“I know how important it is that children are given the best possible start in life. That’s why KidsCan is such a great charity because it provides underprivileged Kiwi kids with the necessities they might otherwise miss out on.”

Sera Lilly’s jandals are based on the two most popular designs from her recent collection. “Hopefully the success these designs had in store can be replicated to raise a lot of money for this great cause.”

Designer Adrian Hailwood who featured a toucan on his jandals says he wanted to create something bright and cheerful for both children and adults alike.

“I chose a toucan because they are bright, cheerful and they make you laugh.”

Helson says the charity is thrilled to have the support of these talented designers who are helping poorer Kiwi kids get access to things the majority of us take for granted.

“Working with jandals was perfect for this initiative because while they might be basic fashion footwear for most of us, they are a luxury for many children in this country,” says Helson.

Only 10,000 of the limited edition Designer Jandals™ will be produced and will be sold through Number 1 Shoes stores nationwide.

“We are extremely grateful to Number 1 Shoes who along with this initiative are also responsible for helping us put shoes on the feet of thousands of disadvantaged Kiwi kids each year as part of the KidsCan Shoes for Kids programme,” she says.

Over the past three years KidsCan has provided 24,000 free adidas All Blacks raincoats and 4,000 pairs of shoes and distributed 240,000 items of food a year to underprivileged Kiwi kids.

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